INL opens high-speed computing center

New modern INL high-performance computing center and supercomputer significantly enhance nuclear energy research

The U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory is opening its High-Performance Computing Center, taking a major step in achieving the laboratory's vision to become the nation's leading nuclear energy research, development and demonstration laboratory.

"INL's new Computing Center will be a key tool as the lab continues to lead the way in the design and development of next generation nuclear reactors to provide safe, emissions-free nuclear energy in the United States," Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Shane Johnson said. "Advancements in nuclear technology will help spur the expansion of nuclear energy to meet growing energy demand around the world."

The Center will give INL enhanced capabilities in computer modeling, simulation and visualization to support reactor development.

INL High-Performance Computing Center will assist researchers in the analysis of reactor designs and processes. Its capabilities are similar to the computational design approach that aircraft manufacturers use to simulate different prototypes before selecting a final design. While a new reactor design will be rigorously tested before it is built and operated, simulation and modeling tools at the Computing Center can reduce the time and cost of the traditional design cycle and help ensure investments are made in the most promising reactor technologies.

The Computing Center is designed to be highly energy efficient and utilizes a modern cooling system that functions at a higher efficiency than conventional data centers. The environmentally friendly design includes a generator capable of using 15 percent biodiesel for backup power. This generator will prevent a power outage from impacting the computing work under way in the center.

INL will dedicate the High-Performance Computing Center on Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. in the Engineering Research Office Building visualization lab on the Research and Education Campus.